The awards highlight UK services which improve citizen and business transactions with councils, central government departments and other public sector organisations.
In Fife, an email and text alert system for supply teacher placements is one of the projects shortlisted. Supply teachers receive an email or text message specifying which school requires their services, the length of the placement and the school phone number should they wish to take up the offer.
Education Recruitment Team Leader, Lorraine Sorley, says that so far 144 schools and 842 supply teachers have signed up to the system. A further 1015 support staff also use it. "This has been a great success. It enables schools to cover for unexpected teaching problems far faster than before, and it helps the teachers not miss out on any job opportunities because they didn't receive a phone call in time."
The Council's Fleet Services Team has also saved £35,000 on accident repair services since it introduced Videoroute Analyst software in June 2005.
The software involved putting two video cameras on three Council bin lorries; one in each geographical area. The information collected includes the load the lorry is carrying and the amount of time it spends reversing.
Murray Anthony of the Fleet Services Team sys, "The system...has helped to improve driver awareness. It means on some routes potentially dangerous reversing has been stopped. On others, different vehicles are used to fit in with road conditions. It means the Council has improved its compliance with Health and Safety Executive requirements for road safety. And we have used the new system to help train drivers on their routes."
The winners of the National e-Government Awards will be announced on 17 January 2007.
